There’s a new hot spot in New Haven, but you might drive past it without blinking.
This small, waterside gem is located within the Pequonnock Yacht Club in the tranquil City Point neighborhood of New Haven. It’s housed in the building that was formerly City Point Kitchen, just in front of Shell & Bones, and is the pride and joy of restaurateur couple Larry Wang and Bilian “Nia” Chen.
Despite having what may be the most progressive omakase menu in the state, Little Lotus is deeply rooted in history. So, if you enjoy things delicacies like sea urchin, O-toro, A5 Japanese wagyu beef, foie gras…and blow torches… keep on reading.
Gioia, an Italian restaurant, market, gelateria and rooftop space located at 150 Wooster Street, New Haven, is hosting “Chefs for Chef,” a 5-course tasting dinner on Sunday, October 26 beginning at 6pm. In partnership with the Connecticut Restaurant Association, proceeds from the dinner benefit the Connecticut Hospitality Education Foundation, supporting education and opportunity in the local hospitality community.
The event will begin with a festive welcome cocktail and passed bites, followed by a five-course dinner featuring a signature dish from each chef with wine pairings. Participating chefs include:
Tyler Anderson, Millwright’s Restaurant
Tim Cabral, Gioia, Ordinary
Prasad Chirnomula, Chef Prasad Indian Cuisine
Michelle Greenfield, Allium Eatery
Avi Szapiro, Gioia
Chelsea Tripp, Kouign
Tickets are $175/pp for café and bar seating (not including tax and gratuity), and $350/pp for VIP Chef’s Counter Seats (only 4 are available!).
Last week I had the opportunity and privilege to attend the opening dinner at the newly opened Omakase Westport Restaurant at 45 Saugatuck Avenue in Westport. The vision of Chef Edwin comes to fruition in an incredibly intimate setting. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly blend traditional Japanese techniques with modern flavors and innovative presentations, Chef delivers a memorable experience.
With decades of experience in prestigious New York City establishments including Sushi of Gari, Nobu, and Tender at the Sanctuary Hotel, Edwin has honed his craft to perfection. His most recent endeavors includes spearheading the sushi program at TerraSole Ristorante in Ridgefield, CT, and showcasing his talent at Omakase in New Fairfield.
In collaboration with TerraSole owner Scott Yandrasevich, Chef Edwin is introducing his unique Omakase offerings to the local community, sourcing the finest seafood from Japan and fresh local catches. His passion for the art of sushi, combining the traditional with the modern, and dedication to excellence promise to delight and inspire all who visit Omakase Westport.
Introducing the New Haven Pizza Club Pizza Bagel Tour, a delicious fundraiser with 100% of all proceeds going direct to Feeding Families- including all costs that are also donated.
The Pizza Bagel Tour is a pop-up pizza bagel collab with Olmo Bagels X New Haven Pizza Club X a rotating New Haven pizzeria. Each pop up will be at a different Pizzeria and their 2nd stop is the iconic Modern Apizza on OCTOBER 6th, 6-9PM at Modern Apizza at 874 State Street in New Haven.
What began as a dream to unite people through a universal symbol—pizza—has evolved into a movement rooted in storytelling, collaboration, design, and immersive experiences. The Pizza Bagel Tour brings together legacy New Haven businesses and iconic culinary voices to create one-of-a-kind moments that transcend art and food. But at its core, the project has always pointed in one direction: toward the mission.
CTbites has teamed up with Rebel Daughter Cookies to create the NEW “P.B. Jamin’” Cookie- to raise $$ to help feed those In need. With reduced Federal funding, food pantries across the state and nation are struggling to support their communities. Please help us stock the food pantry at FRIDGEPORT by purchasing this signature cookie with 10% of all sales going directly to the Fridgeport food pantry in Bridgeport.
Fridgeport is a stigma free, open access community fridge initiative in Bridgeport, CT. It’s open 24/7, and is a way to get free resources to people in the Bridgeport community, at any level of need.
CTbites will be matching all proceeds
The P.B. Jamin’ is the stuff of dreams with peanut butter cookie dough, stuffed with peanut butter fudge, strawberry jam & topped with peanut butter drizzle, crispy potato chips & freeze dried strawberries.
In a state known for its culinary diversity, sushi stands out as a favorite dining experience. And an experience it is. Sushi chefs put on a show, using the absolute freshest ingredients possible with the most precise techniques to craft their creations in full view of awe-struck patrons. Across Connecticut, sushi restaurants range from sleek omakase counters to casual family-owned spots. Sashimi, nigiri, maki, chirashi, poke bowls - all can be found in this county-by-county guide to the top sushi restaurants in the state. Mix your wasabi and soy, and get those chopsticks ready to discover where in CT the art of sushi truly shines. Please note that many of these restaurants close between lunch and dinner, so make sure to check the website for hours.
It was technically about 17 years in the making, but Masaharu Morimoto officially has a restaurant in Connecticut. The renowned Japanese chef and restaurateur, known globally as the star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America, officially opens Momosan at Foxwoods June 26
Momosan at Foxwoods, in the resort casino’s Great Cedar Food Court dining area, blends casual ramen and izakaya-style dining with what representatives call his “most expansive sushi program to date.” The menu features sashimi and nigiri, specialty sushi rolls, rice dishes like poke and bap, assorted ramen varieties and small plates.
Morimoto made an appearance at his latest location during a press preview Tuesday, playfully bantering with guests while he prepared signature dishes like hot oil-seared salmon carpaccio, sticky ribs tossed in hoisin chili sauce and a surf and turf sushi roll with A5 Wagyu beef, seared tableside with a torch.
Downtown Westport’s newest restaurant, Sushi Jin, has quickly become a hotspot. Located by the parking lot on Elm Street (across from Serena & Lily), Sushi Jin offers an expansive menu with authentic Japanese fare. The food is delicious and the decor is upscale, but the overall atmosphere is inviting. The space is long and narrow with options to sit at a standard table, an intimate booth, the bar, or sushi counter. Regardless of where you dine, you’ll immediately notice all of the decor details; the walls are lined with intricate wooden patterns, a Japanese technique called Kumiko, and the wood details are carried all the way to the ceilings.
The restaurant is run by a husband and wife duo, whom you’ll most likely spot while dining there —though they’re both very shy, so there’s a good chance they won’t introduce themselves as the owners. Their love story started around 20 years ago while they were both working at a restaurant in Flushing; he was in the kitchen and she was a server. As they were building out Sushi Jin, owner He Chen, kept a big surprise from his wife for several months: he named the restaurant “Jin” after her. Currently, the pair lives in Queens with plans to relocate closer soon.
After months of not-so-patiently waiting, the day is almost here. Tomorrow, Jeff Taibe and Steph Sweeney, co-owners of Taproot, are officially opening the doors to their new restaurant Bar Bushido, a traditional Japanese izakaya. While the restaurant is new, the idea isn’t; Taibe actually has been working on the concept for Bar Bushido for over five years. The name originates from Taproot’s former pop-up series, called “Bushido,” that took place prior to COVID. Taibe introduced the one-Sunday-per-month experience as a way to fuel his passion for Japanese cooking, something he missed dearly from his days at Kawa Ni in Westport. Bar Bushido has been years in the making, but it wasn’t until the 51 Wall Street space opened up, that it became a reality.
Join Bridgeport Rescue Mission for an unforgettable evening of exquisite cuisine and community spirit at Harvesting Hope, a special event dedicated to fighting hunger in Fairfield County. This year, they are thrilled to feature the culinary creations of renowned chef Michel Nischan, alongside other local celebrity chefs, in a night of delicious food tasting and philanthropy.
DATE September 19, 2024 6:00 PM
CHEF LINEUP
Bill Taibe — Don Memo, The Whelk, Kawa Ni Arturo Franco-Camacho — Camacho Garage, Shell and Bones Tyler Anderson — Millwright Matt Storch — Match Burger Lobster Renee Touponce — Oyster Club, The Port of Call Eamonn Keyes — The Chelsea Roshara Sanders — 29 Markle CT. Damon Sawyer — 29 Markle CT.
Five chefs will cook with wish kids in the kitchens at Aitoro Appliance at Taste of Wishes event to benefit Make-A-Wish® Connecticut
Taste of Wishes, Make-A-Wish Connecticut’s s annual event, celebrates scrumptious dishes and magical wishes. This incredible evening - on Thursday, September 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Aitoro Appliance at 401 Westport Avenue in Norwalk - will feature local celebrity chefs cooking alongside Connecticut wish kids to raise funds to make life-changing wishes come true.
An evening of fabulous food and drink, attendees will get a taste of each chef’s specialties and a of sense of the many wishes that Make-A-Wish Connecticut has granted.
Celebrity Chef Lineup
Jes Bengtson is the Executive Chef at Terrain Garden Café in Westport.
Dan Kardos, born and raised in Stratford, is the Chef/Owner of Café Melba.
Anthony Kostelis, Chef of the Whelk restaurant in Westport.
Robin Selden is the Managing Partner & Executive Chef of Marcia Selden Catering and Naked Fig Catering.
Matt Storch, a Chopped winner, is the Chef/Owner of Match in Norwalk and Match Burger Lobster in Westport.
Sushi lovers and locals know, if you want rolls and sashimi, Oishi Sushi & Izakaya is always at the top of their list of recommendations in Norwalk.
Oishi, which opened in 2014 under owner Chris Chen, is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary as a top sushi spot and as a SoNo mainstay, this coming October under the new ownership of partners Vicky Gao, Hui Lin, and Peter Hu.
What are you doing on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.? If you’re tuned into the Japanese cuisine scene in New Haven, we know where we’ll find you: Standing in line to be one of the first to experience The Loop, a brand-new marketplace, food court, and kitchen by the enlightened crew that brought us Hashiroku Shokudo & Sake Bar, and Hachiroku Handroll Bar & Tapas. CT Bites was lucky enough to get a private preview, and we’re here to tell you: The Loop is about to revolutionize the way we eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
To catch you up: Yuta Kamori was a stranger to New Haven when he opened the first Hachiroku on Orange Street in 2022. But soon, very soon – in spite of not even a sign out front -- he had a passionate fan base and, much to his surprise, an outpouring of support from local chefs and restaurateurs. “I walked in cold,” he recalls, but found “good people here – people who spread the word.” By 2023 he had premiered the second Hachiroku, a spare, elegant sushi bar on State Street, which opened to great acclaim and which, like his first place, quickly became a statewide favorite.
As the battle against childhood hunger continues, culinary professionals from across the nation are gearing up for the annual Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry event, set to take place in Santa Rosa from May 6 to May 9. This three-day, 300-mile cycling endurance ride is not just a test of physical endurance but a testament to the collective commitment of chefs, hospitality professionals, and food enthusiasts to eradicate childhood hunger in America. Over 100 renowned chefs and passionate supporters will pedal through the picturesque landscapes in support of No Kid Hungry’s mission.
Among the notable participants is Chef Luke Venner of Elm Restaurant in New Canaan. 2024 marks Luke’s third year riding He is the sole rider from CT, but also one of the event's top fundraisers and recruiters.
Nestled among the charming mom-and-pop shops on Sound Beach Avenue in sleepy Old Greenwich, Sushi Bar is turning out some of the highest quality sushi we’ve tried in Connecticut. Two years ago, Chef Rio Yonathan quietly opened his restaurant and changed the Fairfield County sushi scene for the better. Using ultra-premium ingredients from near and far, such as Montauk whitefish and fresh wasabi from Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, Yonathan puts immense effort into fabricating almost everything from scratch. Luckily for us, the fruits of his labor have created an epicurean destination with the accessibility and family-friendliness of a neighborhood haunt.
Yonathan’s story is nothing short of inspiring: 20 years ago, after immigrating from Indonesia, he worked as a busser to fund English classes in New York City with his sights set on a law degree. Observing sushi chefs in their element, he fell in love with the cuisine and changed course, shadowing them on his own time for two years before he was allowed to touch a piece of fish “the old school way.” After attending culinary school, he cooked at Aquavit and Morimoto and then landed a job as head sushi chef at foodservice giant Compass Group. During Covid, he found himself working at a Japanese restaurant in Greenwich and was inspired to open Sushi Bar down the road.
CLASP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing homes, support, and services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is delighted to announce the return of its flagship fundraising event, Taste of Westport. This year’s culinary extravaganza will take place on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, from 6 to 9:30pm at the iconic Inn at Longshore, located at 260 Compo Rd. S., Westport, CT.
Now in its 18th year, Taste of Westport is renowned for bringing together the finest purveyors of food and drink in the area, and this year is no exception. As attendees “Escape to Saint-Tropez,” they will have the chance to indulge in a diverse array of culinary delights, wines, and spirits from over two dozen local establishments. Those embracing the evening’s theme by wearing white will take home a special gift. Live music will be provided by The Bar Car Band, a favorite fixture on the Fairfield County music scene.
You’ll have to drive a little ways to find some of the best sushi in Connecticut. This one isn’t in any of the tony coastal towns. Incredibly you will find it in a small strip of storefronts in Brookfield. There might not be much to do in this sleepy little town, but there is some damned good sushi to be had.
You’ve likely never heard of Amai Sushi, we hadn’t. We were tipped off by CTBites friend Chef Jeff Taibe (Taproot Restaurant) who’s quite familiar with the area. When a chef tells us they’ve eaten somewhere really good, we’re all ears, especially when it’s someplace no one seems to have heard of. So last week we took a little road trip.
In Japan, the best sushi is often found in unexpected places: on the 7th floor of an office building, for example, or, famously, in an underground hallway leading to a subway station. Who would think the same could be said for Connecticut, where one of the state’s most outstanding omakases is located beneath an overpass connecting to New Haven’s Temple Street Garage?
Otaru Sushi Bar, which Chef Sunny Cheng and his wife Kathy opened in 2018, is serving up some of the most sophisticated yet playful bites of sushi on the Eastern Seaboard, without a hint of the austere service that marks many sushi restaurants of a similar caliber across the Pacific. Rather, Sunny employs a diner-first attitude in his joyful omakase, featuring a diverse symphony of flavors, textures, and, of course, top-quality fish. When we requested no squid or abalone in our omakase, he immediately understood: “no chewy, no problem.” And when neighboring diners inquired about the fish that created the glistening bites in front of them, Sunny whipped out a dog-eared sushi guidebook to provide an informative visual reference while narrating his take.
EAT TACOS, SAVE THE TATAS!! The team behind Taco Loco and the Loco Catering Group is bringing back their Tacos for Tatas campaign. Tacos for Tatas isa month long fundraiser during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month where Taco Loco will donate 5% of sales to the Susan G. Komen foundation.
The Taco Loco Party Trucks are not your average food truck. They are first class mobile catering kitchens serving authentic street tacos and margaritas for private parties and corporate events. They do everything from employee appreciation days, school events, holiday parties, birthdays, weddings, and block parties.
The fundraiser expands beyond food truck parties catered in the month of October catering drop off orders and any future scheduled events where the deposits are paid in October will count towards their fundraiser donation
